Switch



SePt- 16, 1952 J. c. PONSTINGL V 2,511,050

SWITCH Original Filed Aug. 6, 1948 2 Sl-{EETS-Sl-EET l Fig .2.

2 2l y 6 I9 .2 i3 INVENTOR lohn C. Ponshngl 23 BY l5 29 28 ATTORNEY Sept. 16, 1952 J. c. PONSTINGL SWITCH 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Original Filed Aug. 6, 1948 Fig.4.

xNvENToR John C. Pons'ringl.

BY Mc.

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 16, 1951?I SWITCH John C. Ponstingl, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a. corporation of Pennsylvania Original application August 6, 1948, Serial No.

1950, Serial No. 158,831

This invention relates, generally,.to electromagnetic devices and more in particular to an electromagnetic switch or relay.

This application is a division of the applicants now abandoned copending application Serial No. 42,785, led August 6, 1948, entitled Switch and assigned to the same assignee asthis invention.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved type of electromagnetic switch or relay comprising coil means, core means, a movable armature and contact structure actuated by the armature, which is simple in its elements and positive in operation.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a relay of the type described having an improved armature structure.l

Another specific object of this invention is to provide a relay of the type referred to which embodies an improved contact assembly.

A further specific object of this invention is to provide a relay of the classreferred to embodying an improved type of hinge structure and biasing means for the armature.

The foregoing statements are merely illustrative of the various aims and objects of this invention. Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon a study of the following disclosure when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of an electromagnetic switch or relay shown :partially in section which embodies the principles of this invention, the switch or relay being illustrated in its energized position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 in which the electromagnetic switch or relay is shown in deenergized position;

Fig. 3 is a view looking at the front of the relay;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the relay, and

Fig. 5 is a detailed view of the armature assembly illustrating the armature in its minimum air-gap position. y Y

Referring now to Figs. 1,3 and 4 ofthe drawing, the electromagnetic switch or relay is arranged for mounting on a panel board such as I as illustrated in Fig. l. In this mounting the base 2 of the relay which is preferably of magnetic material is secured to the panel I by any suitable means. The relay comprises two cores 3 and 4 which are spaced transversely of the bottom plate 2 forming a magnetic circuit which, as viewed in Fig. 4, is substantially of U-shaped configuration. Coils 5 and S are disposed, respectively, about the cores 3 and 4 forma Claims. (o1. o-87) Divided and this application April 28,

ing an electromagnetic structure. Plates 'I and 8 which are of magnetic material are fastened respectively by means of screws 9 and I0 which thread into the free extremities of the cores 3 and 4. The bottom ends of plates l and 8, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4, are bent at right angles towards the base of the relay and upon the inner edges of the faces formed by the bent-over surface portions or faces II and I2, a bracket I3 of non-magnetic material of substantially U- shaped configuration is secured, the extremities I4 and I5 of the sides of the U-shaped bracket I3 being bent downwardly as better viewed in Fig. 2, forming another pair of surfaces at right angles to the surfaces II and I2 of the plates 'l and 8.

The armature assembly I6 of the relay comprises a member i1 which is formed of a single piece of non-magnetic material to provide faces I8 and I9 in the same plane as the surfaces II and I2 and to provide a second pair of faces 20 and 2I, respectively, in the same plane as the surfaces I4 and I5 of the bracket I3. Flat leaf springs 22 and `23 are respectively secured to faces II, I8 and faces I2, I9, while flat leaf springs 24 and 25 are respectively secured to the faces I4, 20 and I5, 2I forming two pairs of crossed leaf spring assemblies at transversely opposite sides of the armature assembly. The point of intersection of the springs, when viewed edgewise, substantially forms the hinge line of the crossed leaf spring assembly.

The armature is biased away from the core structure to the position viewed in Fig. 2 by a biasing spring assembly which includes a stud 2B threadedly engaging the integrally formed leg 21 which is disposed substantially at right angles to the leg I1 of the armature assembly. The stud 26 thus substantially parallels the leg I'l of the armature assembly and projects downwardly as viewed in Fig. 1 across the hinge line of the crossed leaf spring assembly. A nut 28 having a circumferential groove is threaded over the extremity of the stud 2B and a tension spring 29 is attached between a hole 30 in U-shaped member I3 and the circumferential groove in the nut 28 to exert a bias on the stud 26 and, hence, upon the entire armature assembly. As illustrated, the nut 28 lies below the hinge line of the crossed leaf spring assemblies. As a consequence, a moment arm exists with respect to the hinge line which, due to the biasing effect of the tension spring 29, exerts a ccunterclockwise torque about the hinge axis of the armature assembly acuoso biasing spring or make other complicated adjustments in an eiort to change the calibration of the relay.

The magnetic member 3l of the armature assembly is disposed between the leg il of the non= magnetic member and the leg 32 thereof which is formed as an integral extension of the leg 27 and at right angles thereto to lie parallel to the leg il. disposed clearance holes 33 and 34, respectively, formed therein and a bolt 35 having clearance in these holes and having its head abutting the leg 32 is inserted therethrough. The armature 3i is equipped with a securely attached threaded bushing Sii in threaded engagement with the bolt 35 and a compression spring 31 is disposed between the armature Si and the leg 32 ai'l'ording an armature bias to theright as viewed in Fig. 1 tov secure the assembly in position and maintain the head ofthe bolt 35 in secure frictional engagement with the leg 32. The spring 3i maintains the separation between armature Si and the leg 32 through which. bolt 35 is inserted and functions as a flexible spacer. When bolt t is turned either clockwise or counterclockwise the relative position ofarmature 3i is changed and spring 37 conveniently acts as the spacer means to hold armature 3l rigid with respect to leg 32. As illustrated in Figi, the arma ture is set substantially in its maximum air-gap position, and as seen in Fig. 3, the armature straddles the pole assembly to form a magnetic circuit thereacross. Clearance holes Se and 39 in the armature clear the heads ofthe screws 9 and i'which secure the pole plates 'l and il to the extremities of the cores 3 and 4, respectively. In the detailed sectional view of Fig. 5, the armature is illustrated in its minimumV air-gap position. This setting is accomplished by the simple expedient of rotating the bolt 35 in the proper direction. It should be noted at this point that adjustment of the air gap between the armature and the cores 3V and it in no way disturbs the setting of the contacts since the contacts for the switch are carriedat the free extremity of the leg I? which remains undisturbed by movement of the armature 3|..

The contact assembly-of the electromagnetic switch or relaycomprises a pair of opposed stationary contacts 4i and 42 which are mounted on terminal strips e3 and fili, respectively. Terminal strips i3 and All are secured within an arc-box` structure e5 of an electrically insulating material and this arc-box structure is secured to the base 2 by means of a U-shaped support 4S, the arc-box structure being carried betweenthe extremities of the U-shaped support. This U-shaped support is preferably a permanent magnet or ,if not a permanent magnet is preferably formed of .m'a'gnetisable material having 'small permanent magnets at the extremities to produce a magnetic iiux forcontrolling the arc which is struck at the contacts'upon opening thereof. Alternatively a non-magnetic U-shaped member may be employed having permanent magnet pieces attached adjacent the extremities of the sides thereof to produce the arc controlling magnetic field. The

The legs 32 and l have the coaxially Y use or a permanent magnet eliminates the need for a blowout coil and its circuit connections.

The movable contacts 47 and i8 are mounted` on opposite faces of a U-shaped flat spring member ila at the extremity of the leg i?, as viewed,

for movement back and forth in contact engag- `ingposition between the respective stationary contacts di and d2. One side of the U-shaped spring member is threaded near the base thereof to receive a screw de having clearance through hole in the leg Il. The other side of the ila shaped member is secured to the leg il by means vof a screw 5U having clearance through the leg il and the said one side of the U-shaped spring member and which threads through the opposite side of the U-shaped spring member die. The screw is provided with an enlarged head which in the instant case is formed by securing washer 5I to the head of the screw to rotate therewith, the washer 5i being of sulcient diameter to extend radially beneath the head of the screw 49. Thus the distance D between the contacts di and 48 may be changed as desired by the simple expedientl of loosening the screw :i9 and turning the screw 50 to change the contact gap G. Once the desired setting of the contacts di and d8 is achieved, the screw Se is locked in the selected position by retightening of the screw 139.

While a preferred embodiment of thisinvention has been illustrated in the drawingsand described in the descriptive disclosure, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the artA that various detail changes in the structure herein considered may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of this invention. Accordingly, it is Vintended that the foregoing disclosure be considered only as illustrative of the principles of this invention and not interpreted in a limiting sense.

said non-magnetic movable member for adjustably biasing the side of said U-shaped member, remote from said non-magnetic movable member, towards and away from the side `thereof'secured to said non-magnetic movable member, for adjusting the spacing between said contacts at the extremities of the sides of the U-shaped member; and locking means connected with said adjusting means for releasably locking said adjusting means in preselected positions.

2. A contact assembly comprising, in combina tion, a pair of oppositely disposed stationary contacts, a U-shaped spring member having a pair of contacts one on each outside face of the sides of the U-shaped member adjacent the extremities of said sides, a movable member, a screw clearing Vthrough said movable member and threading into thereby, Said second screw clearing through said movable tn'ernber and said one side o! said U- shaped member and threadedly engaging the remainingsidej oi' said U-shaped member.

JOHN C. PONSTINGL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe :tile o! this patent:

Number L 2,002,476 2,030,691 2,480,216 

